Lake County Gazette

Julie A. Morrison introduced SB0034 in the Illinois Senate on Jan. 13, 2025, during the general assembly session 104, according to the Illinois General Assembly.

According to the Illinois General Assembly site, the legislature summarized the bill's official text as follows: "Amends the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act. Prohibits a member from refusing casework service to an individual who resides in the member's district based solely upon the individual's political affiliation. Defines "casework service". Effective immediately."

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill amends the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act to prohibit any member of the Illinois General Assembly from refusing to provide casework services to a constituent residing in their district based solely on the individual's political affiliation. It defines "casework service" as actions by a member or their staff such as requesting information, urging fair consideration, or arranging meetings with a state agency for individuals or entities within the district. The bill reinforces the ethical conduct required from state officials, aiming to ensure impartiality in constituent services. The act takes effect immediately upon becoming law.

Julie A. Morrison has proposed another four bills since the beginning of the 104th session.

Morrison graduated from Knox College in 1978 with a BA.

Julie A. Morrison is currently serving in the Illinois State Senate, representing the state's 29th Senate District. She replaced previous state senator Susan Garrett in 2013.

Bills in Illinois follow a multi-step legislative process, beginning with introduction in either the House or Senate, followed by committee review, floor debates, and votes in both chambers before reaching the governor for approval or veto. The General Assembly operates on a biennial schedule, and while typically thousands of bills are introduced each session, only a fraction successfully pass through the process to become law.

You can read more about bills and other measures here.

Bill Number	Date Introduced	Short Description
SB0034	01/13/2025	Amends the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act. Prohibits a member from refusing casework service to an individual who resides in the member's district based solely upon the individual's political affiliation. Defines "casework service". Effective immediately.
SB0030	01/13/2025	Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Provides that, on and after January 1, 2030, no person shall sell or offer for sale in the State a new washing machine for residential, commercial, or State use unless the washing machine: (1) contains a microfiber filtration system with a mesh size of not greater than 100 micrometers; and (2) bears a conspicuous label that is visible to the consumer, in the form of a sticker or any other label type, that includes a specified statement. Provides that a person or entity who violates this prohibition shall be liable for a civil penalty not to exceed $10,000 for a first violation and not to exceed $30,000 for each subsequent violation.
SB0031	01/13/2025	Amends the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Makes technical changes in a provision that states if the minor is in the custody of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, pursuant to an order entered under the Delinquent Minors Article of the Act, the court shall conduct permanency hearings as set out in the court review provisions of the Abused, Neglected, or Dependent Minors Article of the Act.
SB0032	01/13/2025	Amends the Administration Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that subject to federal approval if required, a household that includes one or more veterans or members of the armed forces shall be considered categorically eligible for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits if the gross income of such a household is at or below 200% of the nonfarm income poverty guidelines.
SB0033	01/13/2025	Amends the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act. Provides that when a legislator chooses to take official action on a matter despite the existence of a conflict situation, he or she shall (in addition to serving the public interest) also disclose that he or she is taking official action by filing a statement with the Clerk of the House of Representatives or the Secretary of the Senate. Provides that the statement filed with the Clerk of the House of Representatives or the Secretary of the Senate shall be made a part of the official record of the legislation and posted on the Illinois General Assembly website with other documents related to the legislative matter at issue. Effective immediately.